If you live in Mississippi, you have a number of Medicare coverage options, including Original Medicare (parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), and Medicare Part D (drug coverage).

Medicare is a national health program run by the federal government for people 65 years and over and those with certain disabilities. Some parts of Medicare, such as Original Medicare (parts A and B) are managed by the government.

Other Medicare options, such as Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, are offered through private insurance companies. These plans can add to or replace your Original Medicare coverage.

This article reviews all of the Medicare plan options for Mississippi residents, including what to consider when choosing a plan, plan eligibility, and how to enroll.

2025 Medicare trends in Mississippi

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Mississippi for the 2025 plan year:

  • A total of 636,926 residents of Mississippi are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium decreased from $20.34 in 2024 to $21.32 in 2025.
  • There are 72 Medicare Advantage plans available in Mississippi for 2025, compared with 88 plans in 2024.
  • All Mississippi residents with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.
  • There are 10 Medigap plans offered in Mississippi for 2025. Plans C and F are no longer available to new Medicare members

In Mississippi, there are two main options for Medicare coverage: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare is managed by the federal government, while Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies.

You can also choose to add Medicare Part D (drug coverage) and/or Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) to your Original Medicare coverage or add prescription and supplement coverage through your Medicare Advantage plan.

Original Medicare

Part A helps pay the costs of inpatient care services you get as an inpatient in a hospital setting. Part A may also pay for:

Part B helps pay for costs that include:

  • outpatient care
  • medical supplies
  • preventive care you get in a doctor’s office

Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. You may purchase a Medicare Part D plan from Medicare or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Advantage plans

With Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, you have the option to combine coverage into a single plan from a private insurer.

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare (parts A and B). They cover all of the same benefits as Original Medicare. Some plans may also have expanded coverage options, such as prescription drug benefits and dental and vision coverage.

The following private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi:

Medicare Advantage plans offered in Mississippi vary by county. To research plans in your area, you can enter your zip code into this online Medicare search tool.

Medicare supplement plans

You can also buy Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap plans, from private insurers. These plans help cover the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.

They may help lower out-of-pocket costs, such as copays and coinsurance. And they may add services like dental, vision, hearing, or long-term care coverage.

It’s important to note that you cannot have a Medigap and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. Medigap only helps cover certain costs associated with Original Medicare.

Many companies offer Medigap plans in Mississippi. Some of the companies offering Medigap plans throughout the state include:

Shopping for Medicare coverage is just like shopping for any insurance plan. You want to be aware of how plans might vary and how those differences might affect the ways you seek healthcare. This will help you narrow down which options best suit your needs.

It’s important to remember that while federal law says that Medicare Advantage plans must cover all the same benefits as Original Medicare, insurance companies have some flexibility in plan design.

When considering your options, you’ll want to ask yourself questions such as:

  • How much will this plan cost? How much are the premiums? How much will I need to pay out of pocket when I seek care or fill a prescription?
  • Is the provider network sufficient? Does it include doctors and hospitals near me? What about doctors I’ve already been seeing for care?
  • Will I need to choose a primary care doctor and get referrals to see specialists?
  • What are other people saying about the plan? You can usually find reviews online or check a plan’s star rating. You can also ask friends and acquaintances already enrolled in Medicare plans in Mississippi what they think of their coverage.

Medicare plans in Mississippi are available to people over the age of 65 years and to adults with certain disabilities or chronic diseases.

You’ll be able to enroll in Medicare plans in Mississippi if you meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • you’re 65 years old or older
  • you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • you qualify for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits

You may also be eligible at any age if you’re living with certain disabilities or a chronic health condition such as end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

When can you enroll in Mississippi’s Medicare plans?

Your initial enrollment period for Medicare begins 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday and continues for 3 months after, regardless of whether you’re retired or have plans to retire anytime soon.

If you choose to continue working, or if you qualify for employer-sponsored coverage through your spouse, you may decide not to enroll in Part B or any supplemental coverage just yet. In these cases, you’ll qualify for a special enrollment period later on.

There’s also an open enrollment period every year from October 15 through December 7. During this time, you can enroll for the first time or change plans. The general enrollment period is January 1 through March 31 each year.

You can learn more about your Medicare coverage options in Mississippi through the following organizations:

If you live in Mississippi, you have a number of different Medicare options to choose from.

You can sign up for Original Medicare (parts A and B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. A number of private insurance companies in Mississippi offer Medicare Advantage plans.

You can also decide whether to add Medicare Part D (drug coverage) to your plan. There are also several Medigap plan options if you live in Mississippi and are looking for additional coverage. But remember, you can’t have a Medigap and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time.